ENGLAND WATCH: Finn shines with four wickets as Cook re-enters the county fray

It's the second week of the championship season and the majority of England players are all back playing for their county sides.

After an atrocious Ashes and, if possible, an even worse Twenty20 World Cup, there are plenty of spots up for grabs as the Sri Lanka Test series draws closer.

Here's a rundown on how the hopefuls fared on Sunday.

Steven Finn (MIDDLESEX V Nottinghamshire) - Rating 8

He
picked up four wickets and bowled with the pace and tenacity that all
England fans say he must if he is to return to the fold. If confidence
was a problem it appears Middlesex have got him to believe in himself
once more.

One particularly vicious ball rapped Steven Mullaney on the hand and the Nottinghamshire opener needed treatment.

Back to form: Steven Finn had a good day with the ball picking up four Nottinghamshire wickets

Alastair Cook (ESSEX v Derbyshire) - Rating 6

England skipper Cook began confidently in his first competitive game of the new county season but couldn't survive until lunch as his Essex side were blown away by Derbyshire.

After the Pietersen scandal, Cook will be glad to be back in the middle for the right reasons, but he was strangled down the leg side for a tidy looking 35. He is one of only a few men guaranteed a Test start if fit, the others being James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ian Bell.

Competent: England captain Alastair Cook scored 35 in his return to county cricket as Essex were rolled for 94

Gary Ballance (YORKSHIRE v Somerset) - Rating 8

He
had a pretty thankless task when thrown into an appalling Ashes series
but what his Test debut means is that he is a real contender for a
permanent spot.

And onlookers will only have good things to say about him after Sunday's knock of 77. Along with Adil Rashid (who isn't completely out of the picture himself) they put on 115 with Yorkshire's fifth wicket.

Quality shot: Gary Ballance pushes the ball through the off side on his way to scoring 77

Ravi Bopara (ESSEX v Derbyshire) - Rating 4

With at least two, if not three, England batting spots up for grabs as the first Test of the summer draws closer, Essex's Ravi Bopara has the chance to reclaim his five-day place with a prolific start to the season.

Unfortunately, this time around he only lasted 15 balls and was the first wicket in a Tim Groenewald hat-trick. He'll need a near miracle now to be included in the first squad at least.

Slow start: England hopeful Ravi Bopara was the first to fall in a Tim Groenewald hat-trick

Jonathan Trott (WARWICKSHIRE v Sussex) - Rating 7

Looked
much more comfortable at the crease than any of his previous outings
since returning to cricket. Only scored 34 but that amounted to nearly
half of Warwickshier's 87 all-out.

He'll
need to convince messers Fraser, Giles and Whitaker that they can't
afford to leave him out on form, not because of previous history. But
for most of their innings he was the one keeping the cool head. As per
usual.

Big fish: Jonathan Trott's 34 doesn't sound like much but was the lion's share of Warwickshire's 87 all-out

Moeen Ali (WORCESTERSHIRE v Kent) - Rating 6

One of the few bright sparks of the Twenty20 World Cup was the emergence of Moeen Ali as a fresh talent who could play across many formats for England.

Despite scoring quickly, Ali only reached 41 on Sunday before being bowled by Kent's Darren Stevens. However, he hit a half century in his previous game against Hampshire and will be carefully watched by England's three selectors.

An ODI with Scotland on May 9 will be in his sights.

On the up: Moeen Ali has broken into the limited over set-up but may need more runs to wear England whites

James Taylor - (NOTTINGHAMSHIRE v Middlesex) - Rating 7

Record another very competent 50 but couldn't convert it into a really giant score. Eventually went for 62 but it was well constructed and oozed class. Will definitely be in the mix alongside Ballance and Morgan for a middle order spot when Sri Lanka come to visit.

Had a taste of international cricket two summers ago but now looks an even better player. Dealt with a fired-up Steven Finn well and scored at a fast pace which was where some people felt he fell down first time round.

Sri Lanka on his mind: James Taylor failed to convert a 50 into a big score but will be in the England Test mix

Ian Bell (WARWICKSHIRE v Sussex) - Rating 2

A shoo-in for England but will want some form going into the Tests. He was called up to the Twenty20 side but didn't feature in the World Cup and needs to pick up some runs from somewhere.

It wasn't his day on Sunday as Warwickshire's acting captain was dismissed by the motivated Chris Jordan had him caught by Ed Joyce for a duck off just his fourth ball of the day.

Runs on the board: Ian Bell will make the England side but his duck against Sussex has him in need of runs

Scott Borthwick - (DURHAM v Northamptonshire) - Rating 5

Graeme Swann's departure means England have to make a very tricky choice in the spinning department. James Tredwell currently sits at the top of the list but Borthwick isn't too far behind with his interesting leggies.

One advantage he has is the potential for him to become an all-rounder and he came in at No 3 for Durham, although he only managed 20 before being trapped LBW. England will very much be keeping their eye on him.

Chris Jordan (SUSSEX v Warwickshire) - Rating 8

He made a big impact during the winter, even with his big hitting, and he made another with three quick wickets to leave Warwickshire reeling at the start of their innings.

Varun Chopra, Laurie Evans and Ian Bell all couldn't handle him, and he must be close to making a long awaited Test debut.

Rampant: Sussex's Chris Jordan is certainly one to watch after rolling three of Warwickshire's top four

James Tredwell (KENT v Worcestershire) - Rating 6

Ever the consistent spinner, Tredwell picked up one wicket from his 15 overs, albeit the No 11. He can't be expected to run through an innings on the first morning.

As the likely candidate for England's spinning role it is his to lose from this point on.

Revisit: Durham's Graham Onions will surely come into the reckoning for summer service with a few big wicket hauls

Other hopefuls playing this week

HAMPSHIRE v Gloucestershire: Michael Carberry and James Vince are both playing but they won the toss and bowled first, so will have to wait a little longer to get their chance.

DURHAM v Northamptonshire: Graham Onions picked up wickets in their first game of the season and a couple more over the next few days will do him nicely.

MIDDLESEX v Nottinghamshire: Both Sam Robson and Eoin Morgan could find themselves in the side facing Sri Lanka on June 12 so will be hoping to score heavily this week.

SOMERSET v Yorkshire: Can Craig Kieswetter and Nick Compton regain their places in the ODI and Test teams respectively?

WARWICKSHIRE v Sussex: Chris Woakes failed with the bat but fought back taking two wickets. Needs a huge start to the season to be a realisitic England option.

ESSEX v Derbyshire: Monty Panesaronly bowled a smattering of overs on the first day. Will be hoping to show his worth on Monday.